'SNL's' 'Weekend Update' is spinning off into its own TV show

Colin Jost, left, and Michael Che during "Weekend Update" on the March 11, 2017 episode of "Saturday Night Live." Will Heath/NBC It's official — NBC has picked up a primetime version of "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update," which will have a four-week summer run, beginning Thursday, Aug. 10, at 9 PM

The half-hour telecast will feature "Weekend Update" anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che. Additional "Saturday Night Live" cast members will also make appearances.

"'SNL' is having its best season in a quarter of a century — how many shows can say that?! — so we didn't want them to take the summer off," said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. "We're thrilled to have Colin Jost and Michael Che continuing their unique brand of news with fresh 'Weekend Update' shows in primetime this August."

So far this season, "Saturday Night Live" originals are averaging a 3.57 rating in adults 18-49 and 11.022 million viewers overall in "live plus seven day" averages from Nielsen Media Research. This makes it the show's top-rated season at this point in eight years in 18-49 (since 2008-09) and most-watched season in 24 years (since 1992-93).

Versus year-ago averages, "SNL" is up +21% in adult 18-49 rating (3.57 vs. 2.94) and up 2.2 million persons or +26% in total viewers with 11.022 million.